As we explore our use of social networking and media for learning, I would like us to share how we have used social networking and media to support our personal and professional learning — in other words, the role of social networking and media in our personal and/or professional learning networks (abbreviated as PLN). For example, my youngest daughter Raeghan has used YouTube to teach herself several gymnastics skills that she then perfected with her teachers/coaches during face-to-face classes. She has done the same in support of her piano, voice, and tap dancing learning needs and interests. Although I don’t expect this level of detail, I want to share a significant way in which social networking and media have supported my learning.
In fall of 2014 I was diagnosed with breast cancer. [Note: I’m fine, please don’t be concerned.] What I quickly discovered was in the in-person world, people don’t like talking about cancer…it is a very private matter. But, I needed to talk about it. Social networking was a critical part of my inquiry into what was happening to me. I was able to connect with social-networking groups devoted to breast cancer: treatment, surgical options, recovery, communicating with children, finding doctors, and so on. Without social networking (and the internet as a whole), I would have been lost. Social media sites such as YouTube also provided me with the video diaries of women facing breast cancer, and with videos of surgical procedures so I’d know what was involved. My surgeons also had workshop presentations available for me to view via YouTube. Finally, when I was ready to make my diagnosis and associated plans public, social networking made that possible for me to efficiently achieve. And, wow, was I glad I did. Suddenly I was receiving well-wishes from people that really lifted my spirits, and receiving stories about others’ cancer process. Going public via my social networks not only helped me with my process, but seemed to help friends and family with their own experiences of cancer — past and present.
At the same time I received my cancer diagnosis, a friend was diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer. When I went into the hospital for a bilateral mastectomy, my friend went into the hospital to continue with a series of treatments to try to slow the very aggressive cancer. During this time, although her family had medical insurance, they were facing quite a lot of expenses associated with the cancer and treatment. So, they turned to social networking, in particular a site called YouCaring. There are many sites like this one emerging, and it is a positive way to use social networking to help (although, I’m sure there are times when these sites are misused); it’s an example of how social networking can be effectively used for fundraising — on a grand scale, and on a local and more personal scale. After setting up their fundraiser on YouCaring, the family then used their other social networks (such as Facebook) to get the word out to family and friends. They raised over $25,000 to help with the costs.
Later that spring, my friend died. The funds raised helped her family focus on their grief instead of the medical bills. Social networking did this…and made it possible for her friends and family to help — to contribute and support — in a meaningful way.
This is just one example of how social networking and media has supported my learning, and been a critical aspect of my personal learning network — YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, etc. all playing important roles in my breast cancer PLN because they connected me with people and information to support me on a new learning journey. What about you? How has social networking and media supported your personal and/or professional learning? How is social networking and media incorporated into your PLN, if it is?